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two boats。 When I reached it I saw that the rollers had increased in size in
the short time that I had been absent； and that they were breaking； one
after another； as fast as they could come shoreward； not pygmy waves； but
great walls of water along their huge length before they fell。
A surf such as I had never yet seen had arisen。 I stood and anxiously
watched through a glass the boats at the steamer's side； and at length； to
my relief； I saw one of them leave her； but as it came near I saw； to my
surprise； that Mr。 Bransome was not in the boat； and that it was not the one
that Sooka steered。 Quickly it was overtaken by the breakers； but escaped
their power； and came inshore on the back of a majestic roller that did not
break until it was close to the beach； where the boat was in safety。
Not without vague apprehension at his imprudence； but still not
anticipating any actual harm from it； I thought that Mr。 Bransome had
chosen to come back in Sooka's boat； and I waited and waited to see /it/
return； although the daylight had now so waned that I could no longer
distinguish what was going on alongside the steamer。 At last I caught sight
of the boat； a white speck upon the waters； and； just as it entered upon the
dangerous part of the bar； I discerned to my infinite amazement； that two
figures were seated in the sterna man and a womana white woman； I
could see her dress fluttering in the wind； and Sooka's black figure
standing behind her。
On came the boat； impelled by the swift…flowing seas； for a quarter of
an hour it was tossed on the crests of the waves。 Again and again it rose
and sank with them as they came rolling in； but somehow； after a little
further time； it seemed to me that it did not make such way toward the
shore as it should have done。
I lifted the glass to my eyes； and I saw that the boys were hardly
pulling at all； though the boat was not close to the rocks that were near the
cliff。 Nor did Sooka seem to be conscious of a huge roller that was swiftly
approaching him。 In my excitement I was just on the point of shouting to
warn those in the boat of their danger； although I knew that they could not
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understand what I might say； when I saw Jackson standing on the edge of
the cliff； a little way off； dressed in his shirt and trousers only。 He had
escaped from the house！ He perceived that I saw him； and came running
up on me； and I threw myself on my guard。 However； he did not attempt to
touch me； but stopped and cried：
〃Did I not tell you that somebody would be drowned by those waves？
Watch that boat！ watch it！ it is doomed； and the scoundrel； the villain； who
is in it will never reach the shore alive！〃 and he hissed the last word
through his clenched teeth。
〃Good God； Jackson！〃 I said； 〃don't say that！ Look； there is a white
woman in the boat！〃
At the words his jaw dropped； his form； which a moment before had
swayed with excitement； became rigid； and his eyes stared at me as if he
knew； but comprehended not； what I had said。 Then he slowly turned his
face toward the sea； and； as he did so； the mighty breaker that had been
coming up astern of the boat curled over it。 For a moment or two it rushed
forward； a solid body of water； carrying the boat with it； and in those
moments I saw； to my horror； Sooka give one sweep with his oar； which
threw the boat's side toward the roller。 I saw the boat…boys leap clear of the
boat into the surf； I saw the agonised faces of the man and the woman
upturned to the wave above them； and then the billow broke； and nothing
was seen but a sheet of frothy water。 The boat and those in it had
disappeared。 For the crew I had little concernI knew they would come
ashore safely enough； but for Mr。 Bransome and the woman； whoever she
was； there was little hope。 They had not had time to throw themselves into
the sea before the boat had capsized； and their clothing would sink them in
such a surf； even if they had escaped being crushed by the boat。 Besides； I
feared there had been some foul play on the part of Sooka。 Quickly as he
had done it； I had seen him with his oar put the boat beyond the possibility
of escaping from the wave； and I remembered how he had been treated by
Bransome。
With such thoughts I ran along the cliff to the pathway that led down
to the beach； and as I ran； I saw Jackson running before me； not steadily or
rightly； but heavily； and swaying from side to side as he went。 Quickly I
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passed him； but he gave no sign that he knew any one was near him； and
as I leaped down on to the first ledge of rock below me； I saw that he was
not following me； but had disappeared among the brushwood。
When I got down to the beach； I found that the boat's crew had reached
the shore in safety； but of the two passengers nothing had been seen。 The
capsized boat was sometimes visible as it lifted on the rollers； but through
my glass I saw that no one was clinging to it。 I called for Sooka； but Sooka
was missing。 Every one had seen him land； but he had disappeared
mysteriously。 In vain I questioned the other boys as to the cause of the
disaster。 The only answer I could get out of them was an appeal to look to
the sea and judge for myself。 The woman was a white woman from the big
ship； was all they could say about her； and； negro…like； they evidently
considered the loss of a woman or so of very little consequence。
All I could do was to set a watch along the beach to look for the bodies
when they should be washed ashore； and this done； I returned to the
factory。 My next desire was to find Sooka。 He could hardly have gone far；
so I sent for a runner to take a message to the native king under whose
protection we on the Point were； and after whom the Point was called； and
who was bound to find the missing man for me if he could； or if he had not
been bribed to let him pass。
In my sorrow at what had happened； and in my doubt as to the cause
of it； I had forgotten all about Jackson； but after I had despatched my
messenger to the king； I went to look for him。 I discovered him crouching
in a corner of his own bedroom in the dark。
〃Are they found？〃 he asked； i